Injuries, losses piling up for Glacier Kings

TAKING CARE OF business along the boards, Glacier Kings' Cody Eliason checks Oceanside opponent out of the play during Saturday night VIJHL action at the Sports Centre. / PHOTO BY JIM HOCKLEY

The Comox Valley Glacier Kings dug themselves a hole they could not climb out of Dec. 1 when they hosted the Oceanside Generals.

The visitors opened a 3-0 lead early in the second period and went on to win 7-4. The injury-riddled Icemen are now in second place in the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League North Division, two points back of the Nanaimo Buccaneers.

The Generals jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first. In the second and third periods, the Glacier Kings outshot the Generals, special teams played well, the penalty kill shut down both Generals power plays, and the Yetis’ power play went 2-for-4.

But it was all too little too late. Comox Valley outshot Oceanside 31-27 with Kiefer Giroux getting the win and Bryce DiRocco taking the loss.

Game first star Mitch Ball led the Yetis with two goals with Steven Garcia and Wade Bartlett adding one each. Game second star Michael Fretz paced Oceanside with four goals while third star Riel Gibson garnered one goal and three helpers.

“We need to put it all together," said Glacier Kings' head coach Bill Rotheisler in a press release. "Our level of play and consistency are not where it needs to be. Overall, we have the personnel that can work hard and create the necessary opportunities to win games.”

Rotheisler added: "Roles are not being executed. Our best defensive line has to be hard on the forecheck and not turn over the puck in the neutral zone. Our back end needs to make it tougher to play against and our guys we depend on to score have to do that as well.

"Mitch (Ball) played hard, played his role. (Cody) Eliason on the back end played his role. The penalty kill played their role. Roles need to be executed."

The Glacier Kings hit the road Wednesday night to play the Westshore Wolves then host the Wolves this Saturday in a 7:30 p.m. start at Comox Valley Sports Centre Arena #1.

The 2013 VIJHL All-Star Classic goes Jan. 13 at Oceanside Place in Parksville. The day gets underway at 11 a.m. with the banquet at the Parksville Community Centre.

The Prospects Game goes at 1:30 p.m., the Skills Competition at 3:30 p.m. and the All-Star Classic 4:30 p.m. Ticket information is on the league website at www.vijhl.com.